Expansion band for wrist watches



y 4, 1960 A. TlKTlN 2,937,797

EXPANSION BAND FOR WRIST WATCHES Filed Sept. 4, 1956 4 FIG. 6

3 9) 3 @fif 9 C 4 FIG. 4 7

1 F :1'rl w /ii i I FIG. 8 r 4 k FIG. 5 J INVENTOR.

Abr ham Tki' n BY:

EXPANSION BAND FOR WRIST WATCHES Abraham Tiktin, Av. Del Taller 46-6, Mexico City, Mexico The present invention relates to a device for removably mounting a watch, and more particularly to a watch band for removably mounting a watch on a curved surface. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending US. application, Serial No. 516,890, filed June 21, 1955, now abandoned, and entitled Expansion Band For Wrist Watches.

In the prior art, devices for mounting watches, particularly wrist watches, are very complicated and include a number of very small parts which must be fitted together carefully for mounting the watch. 7

It is an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages inherent in watch mounting devices according to the prior art. I

-It is another object of the invention to provide a watch mounting device which allows'a watch to be mounted and dismounted easily; It is a further object of the present invention to provide a watch band which is easily manufactured and which will hold a watch securely on the wearers wrist.

It is yet another object of the present invention to pro vide a watch mounting device which mounts a watch without the assistance of additional members or tools.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for mounting a watch which is sturdy and at the same time graceful and which provides a smooth fit on the wearers wrist.

With the above objects in view the present invention consists mainly in a device for removably mounting a watch which includes a band element havinga pair of end portions at least one of the end portions including integral hook-shaped means adapted to engage and rernovably mount a watch.

More specifically the present invention relates to a device for removably mounting a watch and having a band element which has an end portion and which is adjustable to a curved position for mounting a watch on a curved surface. Flexible hook means are connected to the end portion of the band element and have a first portion for achieving this connection and a second portion extending from the first and being bent upon the first to form a hook for mounting a watch. The second portion is adapted to be flexed to a curved position in which the second portion is substantially parallel to the band element in the curved position of the band element so that when the band element amounts the watch on a curved surface the second portion of the hook means is held between the curved surface and the band element and adopts the curved contour thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claim. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific forms when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

St e Pa e t Q 2,937,797 iatented May i960 ice ' similar to that shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the details of the device according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side View of an integral band and hook means according to the present invention;

- Fig. 7' is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of the device of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form I of the device of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a watch 10 mounted by a band element 1 having hook-shaped means 2 which include an inwardly directed second por tion 4. The band element is preferably made of flexible material and the hook-shaped means are preferably made of resilient material. The book means may be formed integrally with the band element, or they may be connected thereto. a I In Fig. 2 there is shown a sheet of flexible material,

. such as, for instance, leather. This elongated band-forming sheet 5 is folded along at least onelongitudinal fold line. In the embodiment shown this sheet 5 is folded along fold lines 6 and 7 over upon itself to form a band element having an outer ply 8 and inner ply 9 which is folded over onto the folded ply portion 19. The sheet 5 shown in Fig. 2 has an extended portion 11 at either end thereof. formed at each end thereof receiving portions 12 and 13 as shown in Fig. 3. A book means 2 having a first portion 3 and a second portion 4 bent back upon the first portion 3, is connected to the band element. The first portion 3 is inserted between the receiving end portions formed in the band element, producing a transverse space bounded by the termination of inner ply 9 at the receiving end portion 13 and the curved connecting portion between portions 3 and 4 of hook means 2.

The hook means 2 has at least the second portion 4 thereof formed of resilient material. The hook means 2 is, preferably, of metal. In the preferred embodiment, the hook 2 is of thin metal plate and is bent over to receive and support the ends of a watch in above mentioned curved transition. The second portion 4 is elongated and is suiiiciently resilient so that when the watch is mounted thereby on a curved surface, the portion 4 of the hook means flexes to a curved position matching the curvature of the surface on which the watch is mounted. Thus, there are no jagged or rough portions biting into the wrist when the watch is mounted accordingly, since leaf spring 2 gives.

The hook means shown in Fig. 4 has a curved second portion 4 and the outer ply 8 of the band element includes the elongated portion 11 which surrounds and covers the hook means, and extends beyond the second portion 4 thereof to provide a smooth end mounting.

Fig. 5 shows detail of the hook means 2 mounted in the receiving end portions of the band element. The first portion of the hook means 13 is shown here as being narrower than the second portion 4; the outer ply 8 with its extension 11 is folded over and covers completely the second portion 4 of the hook means so that the mounting end of the band element is smooth and compact.

The plies of the band element are preferably secured together with adhesive material and the hook means are also, preferably, maintained in their inserted position by means of adhesive which connects them to the ply por- When the 'sheet is properly folded there are tion respectively adjacent thereto. Other means of maintaining the ply and hook means mounted together may be used. Reinforcing means, such as, for instance, stitching, may be added to insure sound and fast connection of-these arts.

P Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show an embodiment of the device in which the band element and the hook means are formed integrally. In Fig. 6 the second portion 4 extends parallel to the first portion 3. In Fig. 7 the portion 4 is curved so as to be concave on the side thereof remote from the first portion so that the second portion will have substantially the same curvature as the wrist when the watch band is placed thereon. In Fig. 7 the portion 4 is shown as spaced slightly from the portion 3 in normal position thereof, while in Fig. 8 the integrally formed band and hook means is shown with the portion 4 at least partially adjacent the hook portion 3.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of mounting of watches on curved surfaces.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a watch mounting device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characterisics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

Watch bracelet for removably mounting a watch having two mounting loops, comprising in combination, an elongated band-forming sheet of substantially flexible material, said sheet being folded over itself along at least one longitudinal fold line to form a band element having an inner ply and an outer ply and a receiving end portion; a resilient spring hook means having a first plate portion and a second plate portion, the first plate portion being received in said end portion of said band element, said second plate portion being bent upon said first plate portion and being opposite said inner ply of said band element, said second plate portion being curved and convex toward said first plate portion and said inner ply, so that the center part of said second plate portion abuts in operative position the fiat surface of said inner ply of said band element and the free end of said second plate portion is spaced and flares outwardly from said inner ply for insertion of a watch loop so that said watch loop is held by said central part between said second and said first plate portion; and means securing said plies to each other and to said first plate portion of said hook means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,400,594 Nienaber May 21, 1946 2,703,914 Levine Mar. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,922 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1912 457,791 Great Britain Dec. 7, 1936 818,312 France June 14, 1937 856,218 France Mar. 11, 1940 

